MagicalGirlMyaakowrote:
As for Zero no Tsukaima, I keep wanting to feel the hope that we will get the previous 3 seasons eventually. It just seems like it might be a little sticky with the licensing status first season.
Then again, Funimation has been bringing back a lot of out of print titles, like Shakugan no Shana. But the situation with ZnT is more than just being out of print....

Funimation is totally out of the picture on ZnT at this point. Their license for it expired, and like Higurashi they indicated they have no intention to renew it or pursue other titles in the series.

I expect whether CR would put much effort toward licensing the earlier ZnT series would depend on the performance of the simulcast of the fourth series. I get the impression is performed acceptably, but not great.

And my goodness you brought up something good - Higurashi. I would die of happiness, right on the spot, if CR were to ever stream it.
I'm in the same boat - I want to watch Kai somewhere legally. And the OVAs. The first season is one of my absolute favorite anime, and I've been wanting to get the DVDs for a long time...I know this barely does anything, but I even contacted NISA and Sentai about a possible license.
After all, NIS did get Umineko recently. So I really think there is a glimmer of hope somewhere in the future for Higurashi. Just not on Funimation.

I think given Funimation's experience with apparently poor sales of the first series, other possible competition (with the possible exception of Sentai) would be unlikely to license the series. Given that, it comes down to a question of whether holder of international rights for the series is amenable to simulcasting and offering reasonable terms for doing so. At this point, we don't know either the studio producing the series or the primary network, so it is difficult to guess who might be in charge of the international rights.

Studio Deen produced both series and both OVAs, however, so it seems likely they will be the studio. Assuming Funimation simulcasts Hetalia: The Beautiful World this season (which I would rate as 99.9% probable), that would give a 100% simulcast rate for all Studio Deen series for the past year. (CR rarely simulcasts OVAs, which explains why we didn't see Rei or Kira).

I expect that the first 13 episodes will be available in a few weeks to a month since they usually are good at catching up.

Holey Moley! Another unexpected surprise.

Even if you don't like the titles this season, I think most will agree CR deserves a high five for their licensing efforts this time around.

Since the series is still ongoing, this also means it qualifies as a simulcast, which makes it the new record holder for the latest start to a simulcast. (Wooser's Hand-to-Mouth Life last season would have came close, starting during the last week of the series, but CR chose to list it as a library title).

When I read that Crunchyroll was going to stream Little Busters, I was amazed. Then I thought: "Of course such a big title will be limited to USA and Canada only". Then I read the article and saw my country listed. My mouth fell open. You succeeded my expectations Crunchyroll!